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Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday Instant Quiz
The rules: identify the author of the following complete poem. No googling (google will turn this up pretty quickly, I think; and where would the fun be in that?). If you happen to know the answer for sure (because, let’s say, you have studied this author) you may keep it to yourself, with or without a smug ‘I know who this is’ comment posting, according to your taste. If this is easier than I think then the answer will become apparent immediately; if not, I’ll post the answer tomorrow.
Frost upon small rain—the ebony lacquered avenue
Reflecting lamps as a pool shows goldfish.
The sight suddenly emptied out of the young man’s eyes
Entering upon it sideways.
Comments
Kipling- written perhaps on his visit to Japan?- I can’t recall the other pastiches- were they all on motor car accidents?
And, pushing heroically to the front through the enormous crowd of would-bes and also-rans, Vivek has it right.
Well, I surely didn’t know, and I didn’t guess, even in the privacy of my own mind. But when I saw Vivek’s answer, it made sense to me.
I like that, “ebony laquered avenue.”